“I am very proud of Andrea, Megan, and Alex,” MSU Head Coach Velvet Milkman said. “This group has shown discipline both in the classroom and on the golf course and it is nice to see them recognized for their efforts.”
“They are the type of student-athlete that helps build an all-around championship program and I appreciate all their hard work and effort,” Milkman added.
Downer graduated with a degree in integrated studies, while McKinney graduated with a degree in electronic media. Hinteregger, who will be one of two seniors on the team in the 2010-11 season, is majoring in nursing.
Downer and McKinney were big parts of the Murray State’s back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference Championships in 2009 and 2010. Twice the Racers won the OVC title that led to the opportunity to compete in the NCAA Championship in regional competition. Downer ended her career at MSU as one of only three four-time academic picks by the NGCA, McKinney earned the honor three times, this is the third in three years for Hinteregger.
Downer had five top-10 finishes in the 2009-10 season and posted a scoring average of 78.1, which was eighth in the OVC. She was named to the All-OVC team three times and placed sixth in the OVC Tournament.
McKinney’s scoring average of 79.8 which was 18th in the OVC and she turned in four top-10 finishes in her senior season. She placed second at the OVC Tournament and was named to the OVC All-Tournament Team.
Hinteregger saw action in 10 events last season and had a scoring average of 80.8 with a best finish of fourth place at an event at Arkansas State. She earned All-OVC Freshman Team honors in 2007.
Milkman has now produced 31 NGCA All-America Scholar Athletes since becoming the first and only coach of the Racers 17 years ago.
The NGCA academic awards honored 494 women’s collegiate golfers across all levels of the NCAA.
The criteria for selection to the NGCA All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent in all of college athletics. The minimum cumulative GPA is 3.50 and student-athletes must have competed in at least 50% (Division I) or 66% (Division II & III) of the college’s regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year.